Thelma
Thelma
There’s a hot new action star and her name is nothing but June Squibb. Squibb, a seasoned yet fiesty 94-year- old actress who received an Oscar nomination for Nebraska and is fully engaged in writer (…) director Josh Margolin’s action comedy Thelma – to say the least – proves that age doesn’t hinder one’s dreams or going on adventures both on the screen and off it. By god, Squibb is the magic balm that we have all hoped to possess in yet another internecine-political- election year which can so easily bring about a sense of existential ennui.
The focal story is worse. Ethel takes on the character of Thelma Post a determined 93-year-old grandmother. When Thelma is ripped off by a smooth operator impersonating her grandson over the telephone (which the real grandson is incredibly warm Fred Hechinger of the White Lotus) she won’t allow that to happen. Instead, together with a bumbling friend of hers (who is played by Richard Roundtree the Shaft who is in his last performance) and his electric scooter, she goes on a funny but very risky adventure throughout the city of Los Angeles which is aimed at getting back what is rightfully hers from her con artist.
The cast further includes Parker Posey (The White Lotus, Party Girl), Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell in what could be described as one of the most captivating and touching movies in quite a long time.
Thelma is Terry’s grandmother’s memory, however, with a twist. The grandmother continues to live in the apartment on her own, quite capable of taking care of herself, and yes, that eases the worries of her daughter, Gail (Posey). There is also the grandson Danny (Hechinger) who does all the techno stuff which Thelma is lovingly amazed at all the time. Bottom line: she’s not a delicate flower. At some moment, Thelma says, “People are treated according to the way they act, so if you start freaking out and acting like a toddler…”
Thelma Shea is like that when she resolves to do what should be impossible – find out how to get the person who stole her $10,000 over the phone. However, she does require assistance and it is not something she goes to her daughter with her concerns. Instead of calling her daughter, Thelma goes to the nursing home and invites her friend Ben (Roundtree) who is not very enthusiastic about it at first. She steals a scooter intending to escape but remorseous Ben accompanies her to save her from the grief he knows his friend will encounter.
The script was a relief in that it showed Lee treating Man with contempt in a rather dickish and arrogant fashion but inside wishing that he hopes not to lose to his opponent and in turn undermine Lee’s many ambitions. The relationship that existed between Man and Li had so much dramatic tension that one clearly sees why it is very regrettable to see the movie let that go to waste in various manifolds. For instance, the movie spends scant time trying to develop the character of Lee and even ignores the possibility of casting Linda Lee Cadwell, who played a significant role in Lee’s life and was one of the few people who witnessed Lee fight Man.
Had the duel and everything that built up to it and everything that happened after the duel been all that the movie focused on, this could have been extraordinary. Instead, there is frequently all the screen time devoted to that Steve McKee character, who is Billy Magnussen and a student of Lee, who makes friends with McKee soon after he arrives. Truth be told, Steve McKee never existed and so it is inexcusable how the rest of the film is thrown off balance with his inclusion. McKee’s World is a horrible clichéd kung fu setting where the man has met the girl once or twice and then does everything he can in trying to save her from the dark side.
Understanding McKee’s point of view also tends to hide the narrative of Lee and Man as we see both characters through his perspective. Almost everything in the film has something to do with McKee in one way or the other, and this is utterly absurd. His character is a plot device to justify giving the lead to a white male actor. Magnussen does what he is able to do but this is low grade stuff with the rest of the film world should have left long ago. By inserting McKee into the story, there is no other way this film has to adhere to a box office formula, and that is simply not it.
This funky and fun twist to the movie makes sense and also provides a heartwarming sense of humor as Thelma — and Squibb — navigates the film into ridiculousness in the second half. The few bumps in Thelma’s plan try to be resolved as she moves on with L.A., before moving on to the next task — facing the scammer in the end. As it is only natural, given the nature of the story, many explanations are provided of how Thelma fell victim to the con and for what reason. This also enhances the story, and when a report is filed concerning Thelma’s missing person status, the family receives red flags and shortly they try to locate her with Danny at the forefront.
Three months ago, most of us wouldn’t have imagined that a 94-year-old actress (Squibb), an 81 year old actor (Roundtree) running around the San Fernando Valley, would be the most effective form of therapy around. Squibb and Roundtree are a perfect dynamic duo. We owe most of our “stunts” in the film to her. Everybody remembers the lovely Betty White who used to play roles which made us realize how each one of us is capable of surprising ourselves with the things we are able to do or how healthy our spirit may be, and even though Betty white was already known to be a sturdy old lady she still manages to convince us that age is relative. Squibb is witty and humorous, engaging and playful, inquisitive and confident. Say hello to your new national treasure.
The question is what the writer/director Josh Margolin is aiming for here, warm fuzzies with a twist tied to the standard action flick formula or, more importantly, romance and drama devoid of pretense. The good news is that the film does not attempt to make this point quickly. The language is achieved in a quite uniform and lucid manner while stability and control are prominent in the director’s style. As the film’s editor too, Margolin is an action for an editor yet the action feels well paced for organic action. With another director, it would have been taken over the top.
This also happens to be the feature film debut of Margolin, whereas, for the first time in many decades, Squibb is in the lead role after years of being a supporting player starting from her debut role in 1990’s Alice to The Age of Innocence, About Schmidt and Far from Heaven. All the latter cast members did their jobs well, managed to win the approval of many, and earned the sympathies of Fred Hechinger’s Danny, who became a loyal helper to the grandmother.
Thelma is, less just about a race to achieve a particular goal or making great sacrifices along the way, but the love one has for each member of their family and friends and in vice versa. It’s also a story of people and the little evils that they all battle as they grow older. Maybe that’s what makes Squibb, and thus Thelma, so marvellous. It’s a film for one and all.
It is assuredly not about the end of existence. Thelma’s House does not have this angle as much but rather encourages you to enjoy and fully experience all things regardless of where you are within the progression of society. Save the best for last as heart-stopping action will be nearing the end when our beloved Thelma lets loose her inner action-hero, Tom Cruise.
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- Genre: Action, Comedy, Featured, Popular Movies
- Country: Switzerland, United States
- Director: Josh Margolin
- Cast: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, Nicole Byer, Coral Peña, Hilda Boulware, Chase Kim, Carol Cetrone, Sheila Korsi, Annie O'Donnell, Zoë Worth, David Giuliani, Ruben Rabasa, Quinn Beswick, Bunny Levine, Annie Korzen, Ivy Jones, Sandra Lee Gimpel,
